IAEA urges India to tighten nuclear safety regulations

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is pressing India to tighten its nuclear safety regulations more by making its nuclear power watchdog independent and allowing more outside inspections.

The IAEA recommended that India and its Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) should be separate entities after a 12-day visit to the country, according to Reuters. IAEA said in the article that India should embed the AERB’s regulatory independence in law. Indian President Narendra Modi agreed in 2014 to tighter checks of the country’s civil nuclear program by the IAEA, which came shortly after India announced a deal to open the industry up to more investment, the article said.

The U.S. and India have been involved in talks about India’s nuclear liability law and opening billions of dollars in investments. India is a non-signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.